12 ways to exercise without having to go to a gym

Want to exercise without having to go to a gym? A lot of people want to start exercising but don’t really want to go to the gym for whatever reason, whether time, personal problems, low self-esteem or simple motivation. The good news is you DON’T need to go to a gym to exercise!

Exercising can be a lot more fun than running on a treadmill and in this blog post I will discuss 10 ways ( some of which are free ) that can help you incorporate an exercising routine into your daily life.

The days are gone where a video games console is classified as an uncool and unhealthy way to use your time with the advent of the Xbox Kinect. What is the Xbox Kinect? The Xbox Kinect is a camera that picks up your body and accurately represents your movements on screen. You no longer need a remote control, your body is all that is required.

I highly rate this new tool from Microsoft as there are several fitness games such as Nike+ that help you know if you are holding the right form when exercising and completing the reps as slowly or quickly as would be expected if you had a personal trainer.

Talk about never having to go the gym! You never have to leave the comfort of your front room, get fit and enjoy yourself!

2. Wii Fit & the balance board

The first of all the highly rated fitness video games, Wii Fit DOES help you get fit! It accurately represents your BMI ( body mass index ) on screen and as you progress through the weeks you can see your weight begin to change and your mii character also begin to lose weight.

This is how the founder lost almost two stone in 4 months when he was on his road to recovery ( alongside taking the family dog for a walk ) and is highly recommended for the fact you can track your weight, balance and fitness.

Walking is free and anyone can do it regardless of fitness. When first beginning his recovery from severe depression and anxiety the founder of BoM walked a dog twice a day , gradually increasing the distance he walked which both helped the dog get fit and improve the confidence of himself.

The combination of fresh air, walking miles and having a companion in your pet can really help lift your mood.

4. Ride a bike

I am not much a cyclist myself but riding a bike can really help you get fit and also release endorphins in your brain giving you that feel good factor. You also will be getting the added bonus of having fun in the outdoors and getting the much needed fresh air and vitamin D we require each day.

5. Lift Weights ( or other heavy things )

Weight training is said to help you loose weight faster than cardio according to bodybuilding.com. Whether it also releases as many endorphins, the natural antidepressants into your brain is unclear. If improving your self-esteem is of importance to you by changing the way you look then you should consider weight training.

If you can’t afford real weights ( although some weights are available to buy in our shop ) then you can use bottles of soda, food tins or any household items of some relative weight to begin your routines.

Here is a video to help you get started with weight training.

6. Find your sport and join a group

Remember PE at school? Some of you would probably rather not! Anyway, for those of you who liked sport you must remember what activity you enjoyed taking part in the most. If not I recommend looking around and seeing what sport you think you may enjoy and give it a go.

You are much more likely to exercise regularly if you enjoy what you are doing.

7. Swimming

You have probably heard it before, swimming is one of the best forms of exercise but it all depends upon how vigorous you work out. Swimming methods like the front crawl work out the whole body and in turn help you loose weight and strengthen your muscles in all areas of your body at the same time rather than working on certain areas in usual exercise.

Swimming is also a little like meditation because you have to concentrate a lot on your breathing so this will also help with blood pressure and keeping your mind calm when under stressful situations.

Okay, swimming pools are a bit like going the gym but if you live close to the sea ( in a hot place, in the UK it may not be advised to go in the sea in December) then swimming should be on your agenda!

Similar to the Video Games, DVDs have come a long long way in helping you create a workout that fits around your tight living schedule. There are so many options out there that are particularly for those who have little time to give to exercise at first because they have a busy life and have been proven to work from friends advice.

10. Community Services

Have you ever thought about giving something back to your local community? There are many manual activities you can take part in and also do something good for the people around you so you get the bonus of both worlds and may help you break down barriers if you suffer with mild social anxiety.

Dancing, not just for those who are a part of diversity or professional dancers can improve the mental health of the participants. Dancing is an art that helps you express yourself and again, you don’t need to go to dance classes, a club or be a professional, there are other options for those who can’t get to places to dance for whatever reason.

One way to dance is through the use of several dancing games out there (xbox, wii and playstation ) that guide you to follow routines and can be a lot of fun no matter how well or bad you think you dance.

Even without a video games console, put the radio on or your favourite cd, feel the music and get your jive on! You’ll feel fantastic afterwards!

12. Running

Lastly, but not least, is something everyone can do no matter where you are living. Running can be done in your neighbourhood, your local park or even in your living room ( with the help of a video games console or treadmill ).

Running isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but can help you not only get fit but take time out to think about your day’s activities.
Did you find any of these suggestions good and maybe you are going to try it or do you have your own suggestions? Please comment in the box below.

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Hi folks! John Wilson is the founder of Battle of Mind and Seek A Therapy and a practising web and graphic designer. Before this John was also a part 1 architect in 2008 but due to the recession found it hard to find part 1 positions so retrained as a teacher only to find that wasn't right for him too...this led to him having a severe breakdown due to excessive debts and no opportunity. He had to refocus himself, his life and how he saw the world. It is with these difficult experiences that Battle of Mind was born and the desire for people to know there is a way out of any difficulty they may be facing.
"When things seem to be falling apart they are actually falling together"

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